It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) concerning the recitation of the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, from "I have vowed to You what is in my womb, dedicated (to Your service)" up to "he found with her provision" [Surah Al Imran: 35 - 37] ; he said: Sayyiduna Zakariyya (peace be upon him) took charge of Sayyidah Maryam (peace be upon her). Whenever he entered upon her in the place of worship (mihrab), he would find baskets of grapes out of season there. Sayyiduna Zakariyya (peace be upon him) asked: "(O Maryam!) From where have these come to you? She said: They are from Allah; indeed Allah provides for whom He wills without measure." He said (to himself): Surely the One who can give grapes out of season is also able to grant me a child despite my old age and my barren wife. Right there Zakariyya (peace be upon him) prayed to his Lord. When he was given the glad tidings of Sayyiduna Yahya (peace be upon him), he said: "My Lord, appoint for me a sign. He said: Your sign is that you will not be able to speak to the people for three nights, though you are sound" [Surah Maryam: 10] . He (Ibn Abbas) said: That is, your tongue will be held back from speech without any illness, while you are in good health. This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain of narration, and the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.